School board grants AFB 42% bump; finds new principal in Ethiopia

Rob Varnon

Updated 9:29 pm, Wednesday, May 28, 2014

STAMFORD -- Without discussion, the Board of Education awarded a 42 percent increase in the contract for its facilities management company Wednesday night, also filling two principal positions and a special education director's post.

In a 5-0 vote, the board passed the resolution to pay AFB Construction Management $742,144 next year to allow the firm to hire an energy assistant and project coordinator.

AFB had signed a multiyear contract at the beginning of this year that set its fee at $522,769. But Al Barbarotta, the executive director of AFB, requested the boost to cover the two positions.

The move comes after the board lamented the reductions in its budget request for next year that prompted the board to cut 13 positions.

During Wednesday night's meeting, board member Lorraine Olson praised Superintendent Winifred Hamilton for her leadership this year, including with this fiscal crisis.

"It was really a tough, tough year for this district," Olson said, listing issues regarding mental health, overcrowding and a new curriculum even before dealing with the budget.

"Then our budget getting cut. Almost $4 million was a big crisis for us."

The district asked for an increase of nearly 3 percent, but only got 1.4 percent.

Hamilton said in an earlier interview that the district expects the AFB increase to pay for itself over the long haul with savings on projects and energy, though she did not identify where the district would find the additional $219,375 needed.

She said a project coordinator, whom Barbarotta will pay $120,000 in salary and $42,000 in benefits, is needed to handle building projects, including one involving a new school.

AFB's raise was passed together with nine other resolutions, including a new custodial contract for $541,632 and purchase of new cafeteria tables.

During the meeting, the board also learned it could have another surplus from its health care account. Once again, claims for the district were lower than recent trends and Stamford could end with between $2.3 million and $2.6 million, according to its consultant.